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FEDERAL politicians have been eerily quiet about the torrent of public outrage over pay rises aimed at their lesser colleagues in Queensland.

The conscious silence has allowed them to keep their heads down and cash their cheques while members of the State and Local political tiers face a public relations whipping.

The fact that the head honchos in Parliament House have been quietly accepting massive pay rises every few months while screaming financial bloody murder has taken a back seat.

However, with the State Parliamentarians' salaries set at $500 less than their Federal counterparts and councillors' wages directly linked to the state, it deserves a closer look.

If Toowoomba Regional Councillors receive a 41 per cent pay rise, though that now looks unlikely, it is because the Prime Minister and his ilk have for years been getting greedy - and getting away with it.

Mayor Paul Antonio said the past week since the Queensland Government tried to recoup frozen pay rises had been fraught with damage control and confusion.

"The fact is that all of these pay rises have been accepted over a period of time by (Federal politicians)," he said.

"It has not been an easy time to be a councillor.

"We had no say in it... but local government has been copping all the flak."

Federal members of parliament received a 2.4% pay rise on July 1, their third in 16 months.

Since 2009, their pay rise has incrementally risen by 41%.

Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane will bank $307,329 over the next 12 months, though that figure will jump almost $30,000 if the LNP wins the upcoming election.

Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott will be fighting for more than just Prime Ministership when the election is finally called.

Mr Abbott stands to increase his annual bankroll from a meagre $360,990 to $507,338 if he manages to oust the resurrected PM.

Having seen Queensland's reaction to excessive salary hikes, perhaps both political camps will think twice before further feathering their nests.

Reader poll

Do you feel sorry for Queensland's councillors considering the flak they're coping at the moment?

This poll ended on 16 August 2013.

Yes - 14%

No - 85%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.